This article is part of our Schedule Analysis series.
Five Card Poker
Every season, a few times a year, the fantasy owner is lucky enough to pounce on an NHL team's five-game week. The question is whether that schedule is something to take to the bank.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Having won every other game for the last nine games, the Penguins are the poster boys for inconsistency. While more games usually means more success for fantasy owners, the Pens have not had very good results (combined 2-5 record) against this week's opponents. Although the Caps - first of three remaining games this season - present the most difficult matchup of the five teams, it's Calgary's 5-2 win back in November and the Rangers' 3-0 defeat of the Pens earlier this month that holds the most trending value. Perhaps most damaging is Pittsburgh's 8-16 record on back-to-backs this season.
Four Aces
Teams playing four games this week
Ottawa Senators
The Sens are a combined 5-2 against this week's opponents, including outscoring the Leafs 11-5 (3-9 on the PP) in two wins this season.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers are playing a plethora of other disappointing teams and are 4-0-1 in five previous contests against them this season, including going 2-for-3 in a 5-1 win over Columbus earlier this month.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild are another team that is heading in the wrong direction but has a weak schedule as we near the trade deadline. Surprisingly, it's the weaker Eastern Conference teams (Buffalo, Toronto) that have played tough against the Wild, while Minnesota
Five Card Poker
Every season, a few times a year, the fantasy owner is lucky enough to pounce on an NHL team's five-game week. The question is whether that schedule is something to take to the bank.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Having won every other game for the last nine games, the Penguins are the poster boys for inconsistency. While more games usually means more success for fantasy owners, the Pens have not had very good results (combined 2-5 record) against this week's opponents. Although the Caps - first of three remaining games this season - present the most difficult matchup of the five teams, it's Calgary's 5-2 win back in November and the Rangers' 3-0 defeat of the Pens earlier this month that holds the most trending value. Perhaps most damaging is Pittsburgh's 8-16 record on back-to-backs this season.
Four Aces
Teams playing four games this week
Ottawa Senators
The Sens are a combined 5-2 against this week's opponents, including outscoring the Leafs 11-5 (3-9 on the PP) in two wins this season.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers are playing a plethora of other disappointing teams and are 4-0-1 in five previous contests against them this season, including going 2-for-3 in a 5-1 win over Columbus earlier this month.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild are another team that is heading in the wrong direction but has a weak schedule as we near the trade deadline. Surprisingly, it's the weaker Eastern Conference teams (Buffalo, Toronto) that have played tough against the Wild, while Minnesota has enjoyed limited success (combined 4-1-2, 18:16 GF:GA) against this week's division rival opponents (Colorado, St. Louis).
Winnipeg Jets
With the subtraction of Andrew Ladd, the Jets have little to lose as they are clearly packing it in the for season. With a combined 1-4 record (7:16 GF:GA), I'm not sure why LWL has their SOS ranked third this week among four-game teams, especially if they end up dealing more personnel.
Calgary Flames
Arguably one of the worst road teams (9-17-3) in either conference, the Flames begin and end a four-game road trip east. That said, the Flames have gone unbeaten (4-0) against this week's opponents.
Dallas Stars
Whether they make a deal for a stay-at-home defenseman or not, the Stars bring a decent combined record (3-1-1) against this week's opponents, including a 2-0 (8:3, GF:GA) series lead over the Predators.
Washington Capitals
Washington plays three at home before heading out for a four-game road trip. With a combined 8-2 record against this week's opponents, there's little room for doubt that the usual suspects will produce for your fantasy owners.
Montreal Canadiens
Most of the Canadiens' disappointing season has unraveled on the road (13-16-2), where they spend all four games this week, now missing two of their seasoned personnel (Tomas Fleischmann, Dale Weise); it may be time to jump ship on Montreal's fantasy impact.
New Jersey Devils
Fighting for their wild card lives, the Devils are a combined 4-3 against this week's opponents.
New York Rangers
Playing six of their next nine away from MSG, where the Rangers are merely a pedestrian (14-14-3) team, could certainly have GM Jeff Gorton and the other brass leaning towards selling at Monday's trade deadline.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Much like the NFL, on any given night, a team can outplay a favored opponent. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that way for a rebuilding Leafs squad who are a combined 0-4-3 against this week's opponents.
The Flop
Highlighting trends from one game a night
Monday - New York is outscoring Columbus 9-4 in their two meetings, both wins for New York. Surprisingly, the Jackets do have two power play goals in 10 opportunities against the Rangers.
Tuesday - You've got to like what Florida is doing as the deadline nears; add in a weak opponent (Winnipeg) who is doing the exact opposite at the deadline. It could be a nice game for the Panthers, who yielded just one goal (to the departed Ladd) just over a week ago in a 3-1 win over the Jets.
Wednesday - Although Toronto's penalty kill is far from the league's worst unit, it doesn't take a big stretch of the imagination to think the Caps could put a hole in the Leafs' netting.
Thursday - The Islanders' power-play unit is 2-6 against the Jets' penalty-kill unit this season. The Sabres are 2-3 against the Flames' penalty kill, while the Lightning are 2-3 against Ottawa's.
Friday - The Capitals are 5-12 on the power play against the sputtering Rangers.
Saturday - The Canadiens defeated the Jets 5-1 at home back in November.
Sunday - In what used to be one of the finest rivalries in hockey, Chicago and Detroit square off for the first time this season.
